Miami Heat: KZ Okpala Proving Valuable As Multiple Defensive Tool
By Isiah Curry
Miami Heat: If He Can Keep Trending Upward, His Defense Will Keep Him In Play
On a lesser note, if Embiid decided to not immediately go up with the layup attempt, KZ would still be able to recover. Kyle Lowry would drop down to Tobias Harris and Robinson would rotate towards Tyrese Maxey.
It would have still worked out either way, but both would have had a ton to do with KZ’s athleticism there.
EVEN AS A SMALL BALL PIVOT, OKPALA CAN COVER TONS OF DEFENSIVE GROUND.
It was mentioned earlier that the Heat have been tasked with fulfilling the gap of Adebayo’s defensive versatility. They’ve probably found a good enough temporary solution with Okpala and not only as a help defender but as a drop defender as well.
In this play, Miami is running a man-to-man defense with Lowry, Herro, Martin, Max Strus and Okpala, as the Milwaukee Bucks initiate a screen and roll with Khris Middleton as the ball-handler and Bobby Portis as the screener.
Lowry fights over the first screen attempt from Portis and as Portis slips through after his second screen attempt, KZ stays connected, sending Portis’ shot attempt out of bounds.
Commonly, most defenders would’ve attempted to steal that pocket pass from Khris Middleton, as Okpala was in position to gamble. However, KZ refuses to bite, with the understanding that Portis could have an easy one as the roller.
This was just a terrific example of Okpala showing, not only, as an instinctual defender, but even being useful as a small-ball five.
Playing 21.6 minutes in his previous five contests before the Detroit game, Okpala averaged 6.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks, while converting on seven of his last 12 three-point attempts.
He’s also maintained a Defensive Rating of 102.3, which ranks second to Gabe Vincent at 101.3.
As for any player on Spoelstra’s active list, he’ll need to keep up that dependability, as we’re seeing a player earn his time on the floor. With what he’s showing, he’s finally, perhaps, starting to look like a major Miami Heat component for the next few years.
Next. Kyle Lowry At The Forefront Of Keeping This Injured Miami Heat Team Afloat. dark
For KZ, it starts with hanging his hat on the defensive end and as it’s paying off, it doesn’t seem to be that he will ever shy away from wanting to improve.